Comparative results of applying the FDLISR method for rural and urban distribution networks with distributed generations

High penetration of distributed generations (DGs) into a distribution network (DN) could not only enhance the power-system reliability indexes but also reduce power losses. The use of DGs is effective for service restoration plans of the DN to minimize outage customers and power loss. However, the presence of DGs could lead to the protection miscoordination of overcurrent relays/reclosers due to fault isolation and service restoration processes. In light of this assumption, a fault detection, location, isolation, and service restoration (FDLISR) method is proposed to apply to both rural and urban distribution networks with DGs such that the comparative results of this FDLISR method are analyzed and discussed to demonstrate which type of the distribution network has a high risk of protection miscoordination of overcurrent relays/reclosers from service restoration scenarios. The faulted-section isolation and the distribution-network service restoration can be performed by solving a twoconstraints-based objective function and seven appropriate performance indices (PI). By using the E-Terra Dispatching Operator Training Simulator (E-DOTS), simulation results of the FDLISR method applied for both the 22 kV rural-type and urban-type distribution networks are presented and compared to demonstrate its effectiveness by showing the possibility of protection miscoordination and the consideration of power losses for each service restoration plan. Consequently, the computation time of the FDLISR method proposed for the DN is within one-and-half minutes. Moreover, two performance indices of power loss and protection miscoordination, LOSS-PI and PRO-PI respectively, can highly impact the priority rank of possible service restoration plans for the rural DN while only the PRO-PI affects multiple service-restoration plans for the urban DG-contained DN. (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.